The Murky Stream – K-drama Episode 4

Published: Oct 13 2025

Episode 4 of *The Murky Stream* opens with Choi Eun diligently drafting a report for the Inspector General’s office, detailing the nefarious activities of the bandits and the rampant corruption plaguing the region. The Mapo General, enraged by Eun’s audacity and Dol-gae’s failure to prevent such trouble, snatches the report and sets it ablaze. Citing Si-yul’s recent embrace with Jung Chun, he also unleashes his fury on Jung, chastising him for the unsavory company he keeps. Alarmed by the turn of events, Jung is eager to locate Si-yul, only to discover, to his shock, that all horses have been lent out by the captains to kisaengs and their kin. Determined, Jung sets out on foot, embarking on a desperate search.

The Murky Stream – K-drama Episode 4 1

Meanwhile, Si-yul finds himself in charge of distributing wages, but he consistently goes above the predetermined amounts. Despite Mu-deok’s attempts to smack some sense into him, Si-yul remains steadfast. The bandit leader, exasperated, lectures Si-yul on the futility of compassion in their line of work. Mu-deok interjects, revealing that before the bandits seized control, the merchants treated the workers with even greater cruelty. It was with Mu-deok’s inadvertent assistance that Deok-gae managed to overthrow the merchants and claim the port.

A flashback unveils the merchants as being no different from the bandits themselves. Deok-gae, a starving laborer demanding fair compensation, is brutally beaten for his audacity. Mu-deok, in a moment of panic, accidentally injures one of the merchants, prompting the entire group to turn on him. Amidst the ensuing chaos, Deok-gae seizes the opportunity to overpower them all. The confusion leads everyone to believe that Mu-deok played a pivotal role, and Deok-gae becomes forever indebted to him. Back in the present, Si-yul overhears the others jesting about how Mu-deok embellishes this tale every time he recounts it.

Back at the Choi estate, half of the silk shipment lies soaked, and numerous staff members are nursing injuries. Annoyed by the setbacks, Choi instructs Eun to take a route that will minimize expenses. As she goes about her duties, Eun overhears Jung inquiring about Si-yul’s whereabouts. Impressed by his refusal to accept bribes, she approaches him and divulges the full extent of the corruption and the bribes being exchanged. However, she doesn’t hesitate to call him out for his perceived “collusion” with Si-yul. When Jung attempts to defend his brother, Eun reveals the truth about the dawn loading. Jung is taken aback by the revelation.

Meanwhile, Dol-gae grows increasingly frustrated with the captains’ inability to keep Jung in line. They suggest eliminating him as a solution. In Donghonaru, Wang-hae, a Jurchen smuggler, and his crew effortlessly overpower the local bandits. With no other recourse, Chadol, the dominant figure in the area, surrenders to Wang-hae. The news spreads like wildfire, prompting the other thumbs to convene a meeting. Dol-gae presides over the gathering and, surprisingly, engages in a dialogue with Wang-hae when he arrives. Wang-hae, with his silver tongue, flatters Dol-gae and promises to eliminate the middlemen, placing the entire river under Dol-gae’s sole control. The other thumbs, particularly Deok-gae, are left uneasy by this turn of events.

Dol-gae delivers the news to his patron, and we uncover their intent to enlist Wang-hae into their intricate web. However, the patron, potentially a minister, answers to an even higher authority—a regal woman of the court. They issue directives to Wang-hae, instructing him not to exterminate the bandits but rather to anticipate reaping double the profits he had pledged. Mu-deok remains unperturbed, confident in Si-yul's ability to overpower Wang-hae.

Meanwhile, the Mapo bandits endeavor to instruct Si-yul in the art of cursing, though he demurs, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. Just then, Mal-bok stumbles in, battered and bruised from a confrontation with a bully. His pleas for sympathy are met with laughter from all but Si-yul.

In his desperation, Mal-bok implores Si-yul to teach him the ways of combat. Their interactions deepen into a bond, with Si-yul agreeing to drop formalities with him. The Mapo bandits soon discover that Jung is on a quest to locate Si-yul, sending them into a frenzy of panic. Yet, Si-yul remains elusive, having been by Mal-bok's side as the latter faces his tormentor and emerges victorious.

However, more trouble looms on the horizon as Bang catches wind of Si-yul's association with Mu-deok. Unable to locate Si-yul, he seizes Mu-deok and his companions, dragging them before Yoon. Yoon, ever the loyalist, decides to mete out punishment to Mu-deok for consorting with the man who bested Bang. This time, even Deok-gae turns a blind eye.

Just as the bandits are poised to deliver a fatal blow to Mu-deok, Si-yul bursts onto the scene, laying waste to them all. The Mapo bandits rally behind Si-yul, cheering him on. Deok-gae finally intervenes, halting Yoon's desperate lunge at Si-yul with a stab. Impressed by Si-yul's prowess, Deok-gae extends an offer of camaraderie, proposing a drink and the opportunity for Si-yul to helm one of the bandit clans. Si-yul, however, declines the offer, leaving Deok-gae humiliated. In a fit of pique, Deok-gae challenges Si-yul to a duel, declaring that the victor shall have the privilege to reshape the hierarchy to their liking.

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